Suspension for a rigid axle for vehicles

Abstract

A suspension for a rigid axle of vehicles which includes an axle body extending transversely to the driving direction, at the two ends of which is supported one wheel each. The axle body is connected with the vehicle body by way of two lateral longitudinal arms and is connected and guided with respect to the vehicle body by way of a lateral guide arrangement. The longitudinal arms are constructed bending- and torsion-rigid and are pivotally connected at the vehicle body in a rubber-elastic pivot bearings having a wide bearing base and pivot axis arranged substantially transversely and horizontally. The longitudinal arms are also connected to the torsion-rigid axle body by way of rubber-elastic pivot bearings having a wide bearing base, whose pivot axes extend, as viewed in plan view, at an inclination and intersect with the pivot axes of the longitudinal arms on the side of the body in a point at least approximately in the vehicle center plane.

I claim: 
     
       1. A suspension of a rigid axle for vehicles, comprising axle body means extending essentially transversely to the driving direction, a wheel supported at each of the two ends of the axle body means, two longitudinal guide members being laterally offset with respect to each other and operatively connecting the axle body means at a fixed vehicle part, lateral guide means operatively connecting the axle body means at the fixed vehicle part and guiding the same with respect thereto, the longitudinal guide members being bending- and torsion-resistant longitudinal arm means which are pivotally connected at the fixed vehicle part in a first rubber-elastic-like pivot bearing means having a relatively wide bearing base and arranged approximately transversely and horizontally, said longitudinal arm means being operatively connected with the torsion-rigid axle body means by way of a second rubber-elastic-like pivot bearing means having a relatively wide bearing base, whose pivot axes extend at an inclination as viewed in plan view, the pivot axes of said second pivot bearing means intersecting the pivot axes of the longitudinal arm means on the side of the body approximately in the vehicle center plane at least approximately in a point. 
     
     
       2. A suspension according to claim 1, wherein each of the pivot bearing means include two rubber bearings arranged at an axial distance from one another. 
     
     
       3. A suspension according to claim 1, for a driven rear axle of a motor vehicle, in which a differential gear with a spur bevel gear is supported at the axle body means, the point of intersection of the pivot axes of the second pivot bearing means and of the pivot axes of the first pivot bearing means being offset with respect to the vehicle longitudinal center plane toward the side opposite the spur bevel gear of the differential gear. 
     
     
       4. A suspension according to claim 3, wherein the lateral offset e is equal to 1/i, whereby 1 is the longitudinal spacing of the first-mentioned pivot bearing means from the wheel axis and i is the speed reduction ratio of the differential gear. 
     
     
       5. A suspension according to claim 1, wherein the first-mentioned pivot bearing means are provided with apertures in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
       6. A suspension according to claim 1, wherein the pivot axes of the second and first pivot bearing means are so inclined to one another that the point of intersection thereof lies below the first-mentioned pivot bearing means of the longitudinal arm means. 
     
     
       7. A suspension according to claim 1, wherein the lateral guide means is a Watt linkage having a couple supported at the axle body means. 
     
     
       8. A suspension according to claim 1, wherein the lateral guide means is a Watt linkage having a couple supported at the fixed vehicle part. 
     
     
       9. A suspension according to claim 1, wherein the relatively fixed part is formed by the vehicle body. 
     
     
       10. A suspension according to claim 2, wherein the first-mentioned pivot bearing means are provided with apertures in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
       11. A suspension according to claim 10, wherein the lateral guide means is a Watt linkage having a couple supported at the axle body means. 
     
     
       12. A suspension according to claim 10, wherein the lateral guide means is a Watt linkage having a couple supported at the fixed vehicle part.